Compare towns
South Hampton vs Wells vs Dover
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
South Hampton has the highest household income ($153k).
Wells has grown the fastest since 2010 (+18%).
Dover has the most renters (47.3% rent).
What matters to you?
Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.
| Measure | South Hampton | Wells | Dover |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 984Lowest |
11,713 |
33,364Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+18%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.1±5.3 16% above U.S. |
53.6±3.8Highest 38% above U.S. |
36.9±1.9Lowest 5% below U.S. |
| Wells and South Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 23.3%±5.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
18%±3.4 U.S.: 22% |
16.9%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| South Hampton and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 16.5%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
31%±3.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.8%±1.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 52.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
43.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
52% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.7%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.2%±1.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Dover and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $152,500±$44kHighest 89% above U.S. |
$88,024±$11kLowest 9% above U.S. |
$94,829±$7k 17% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $661,100±$45kHighest 99% above U.S. |
$485,300±$23k 46% above U.S. |
$436,700±$20kLowest 31% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,889±$489Highest 34% above U.S. |
$1,350±$297Lowest 4% below U.S. |
$1,607±$100 14% above U.S. |
| South Hampton and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,109Highest 192% above U.S. |
$3,215Lowest 3% above U.S. |
$8,249 164% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 30%±40.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
42.1%±19.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
48.6%±6.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dover and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
52.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 7% above U.S. |
28 min 4% above U.S. |
23 minLowest 14% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 17%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.8%±4.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.6%±2.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Dover and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #22 of 133 in ME | #64 of 120 in NH |
| School district | South Hampton School District | Wells-Ogunquit CSD | Dover School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Wells High School | Dover Senior High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.4Lowest |
12.7Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.